Bellport girl 'in need of a miracle' to be guest of Rep. Lee Zeldin when Pope Francis addresses Congress

Louisa Lopeztaitt, 10, of Brookhaven, receives a kiss from her mother Joan Taitt, after Congressman Lee Zeldin presented her the surprise news that she will be accompanying him inside the U.S. Capitol Chamber for Pope Francis' address to a joint session of Congress. Standing on left is Father Martin Curtin, pastor at the Saint Joseph the Worker Church in East Patchogue, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. Photo Credit: Steve Pfost

Rep. Lee Zeldin Wednesday surprised a visually impaired 10-year-old Bellport girl "in need of a miracle" with a ticket to be his guest when Pope Francis addresses Congress.

"I can't think of anyone better to invite than you," Zeldin (R-Shirley) told Louisa Nadia Lopez Taitt as they sat on a bench at her parish, St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church in East Patchogue.

Louisa will be Zeldin's guest when the 78-year-old pontiff addresses a joint session of Congress Sept. 24 during his trip to the United States. Her adoptive mother, Joan Taitt of Bellport, will receive a ticket from Zeldin to get onto the Capitol's west lawn to watch Francis arrive and watch a simulcast of the speech to Congress, Zeldin's office said.

Francis is making his first visit to the United States from Sept. 22 to 27. He will first visit Washington for his congressional address, then visit New York City from the evening of Sept. 24 to the morning of Sept. 26, when he departs for Philadelphia.

Louisa, a fifth-grade student at Frank P. Long Intermediate School, who says she prays "every night before I go to bed," calmly accepted Zeldin's gift.